Bobbin supporting and driving device



June 6, 1939. E. G. GUENTHER BOBBIN SUPPORTING AND DRIVING DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1957 INVENTOR Edgar 60e/7 #7er Patented June 6, 1939 PATENT OFFICE BoBIN SUPPORTING AND DRIVING DEVICE Edgar G; Guenther, Kingsport, Tenn., assigner to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 6, 19x37, Serial No. 173,214

4 Claims. (Cl. 242--46.4)

This invention relates to the winding of yarnsA onto`bobbins, and particularly to a hydraulic tendency drive between a rbobbin and its associateddriving whorl tov compensate for the in-y crease in the effective diameter cf the bobbin as it lfills up by allowing-the bobbin to progressively slow down independently of the driving whorl.

u The principle herein disclosed applies to such yarnsas cotton, woolen, worsted, linen, etc., but it y'isof -particular benetin spinning certain formsof various synthetic Vyarns such as cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, viscose or cuprammenium yarns.- 'I'hisdisclosure deals specifically with the spinning of such artificial filaments, but themethod may be applied to certain redrawing and other winding operations.

In the spinning of articial filaments, as for instance by the-cellulose acetate process, a viscousspinning solution is forced through a pluralityof small orificesdownward through a current of warm air and thencetoagodet or draw roll. The constructionand operation of this type ofspinning machine is such that the laments upon reachingthev draw roll areproperly cured Yor dried and are substantially parallel, i. ke.,

without twist..` These laments are then drawn fromY the draw roll, through suitable thread guides, and to a bobbin or spool. Inasmuchas the rate of speedin the spinning of articial filaments remains substantially constant, it is necessary in the winding operation to compensate .for theincrease vin the effective diameter of the bobbin as it fills up. In the cap spinning or ring twisting-methods of winding, the bobbin` is rotated at, a constant speed and the increase in the effective diameter of the rbobbin lis compensiated for by the balloon method, which method iscommon knowledge in thetextile art. However, itis sometimes advantageous to wind the yarnfdirectly to the bobbin without the insertion of twist whereby yarns of substantially parallel filaments .are'obtained This latter method is known ink ,thetextilearte` as the direct method' of winding, and in this method of winding it is necessary #to compensate fory the increase in the effective diameter of the bobbin when it lls up by progressivelyy slowing down the speed of the winding bobbin in one kwayor another. Various methods of driving the bobbin spindle have been employed to this end, such as 'variable speed mechanical and electrical drives.y J

.v One object ofthe present invention is the provision of a bobbin supporting and driving device by meansY of which' yarns may be wounddirectly to the bobbin Without the use of any variable speed transmissions. Another object is the provision of a device of the type described wherein a tendency drive isprovided between the bobbin support andits driving means whereby the speed of rotation' of the bobbin is controlled by the tension in the yarn between the bobbin and the spinning cabinet. And still another object is to provide a driving whorl containing a fluid which is constrained to move in a given path and into which the driven bobbin support extends to receive energy from the movement of the fluid. And yet another object is to provide a bobbin supporting and driving device of the type described which is simple in construction, eicient in its operation, and designed to appear as a single 15 unit.

' Briefly, the device consists of a whorl driven by a belt, gearing, or the like; and a bobbin support rotatably mounted 'relative to the whorl. Only a hydraulic connection exists between the whorl and the bobbin support, the driving mecum being a fiuid'such as oil, water, etc., which is moved in a constrained path by the whorl. With this connectiornif the'whorl is driven at a predetermined speed, a rotation, due to the fluid friction of the fluid driving medium, will be imparted to the bobbin support. As the tension increases inthe strand of yarn, due to the increase in the effective diameter of the bobbin, a certain slip or difference in the rotational speed between the bobbin support and a whorl will ensue to compensate for the difference in the speed or takeup and thereby prevent the yarn from breaking.

The novel features thatA I consider characteri'stic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood fromk the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is Va vertical section of the preferred form'of the bobbin supporting and driving device, and

Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the steps inthe spinning and winding operations using the direct winding method. Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to Fig. 2, in the direct method of winding artiiicial yarn, the individual strands 4 emerging from the spinning cabinet 5 are passed over godet `or .d raw rolls 6. NThe construction and operation ofthese spinning machines is well guide 9 which serves to direct the yarn onto the spool in even convolutions. This traversing guide may be of any well-known form, and for the purpose of illustration is shown as comprising a screw member I0 on which the guide 9 rides up and down as the screw member is rotated by means not shown. When the bobbin 'I becomes full, the strand'running to the bobbin is guided by hand and looped once or more about the barrel of the spool I running all the while to bobbin I. When this is accomplished the strand running to bobbin 1 is severed and bobbin I immediately picks up the strand, P- ceeding to wind the yarn until full when the process is again repeated with an empty bobbin in exchange for the full bobbin I. Since the rate of feed of the filaments 4 from the spinning cabinet 5 is generally constant, it will be understood that as the effective size of the bobbin increases the speed of the bobbin will have to be decreased so that the spool will not tend to wind up the yarn faster than it is supplied, and thus set up a tension in the yarn which will break the same. This contingency is taken care of by my novel bobbin supporting and driving device, described hereinafter, wherein the speed of the bobbin is directly controlled by the tension in the yarn beingwound thereon.

Referring now to Fig. 1, wherein a preferred embodiment of the bobbin supporting and driving device is shown, the device comprises a spindle case I3 which is fastened to the machine frame I4 by having a threadedY portion I5 thereof screwed into a tapped opening in the machine frame. The inner race I6 of a combined radial and thrust ball-bearing I'I has a drive llt with the case I3 and rests on the end I8 of the spacing collar I9 which is pressed onto the case I3. The annular open ended whorl 8 has a drive fit with the outer race 22 of the ball-bearing II, and is positioned vertically relative to the bearing through the engagement of the flange 23 thereon and the top of the race 22.

After assembling the whorl 8 on to the bearing I'I the bottom of the whorl is covered by an annular cap 24 which may be fastened in place by screws 25. A loose llt, indicated at 25, is provided between the cap 24 and the end of the spacing collar I9 `to permit the whorl to rotate relative to the case I3, and this loose fit may be filled with any suitable vanti-friction packing, not shown. An annular recess 2'I is provided in the whorl and contains a quantity of fluid 28 such as oil, water, etc. The periphery of the whorl 8 has a belt groove 3|] formed therein, which may or may not becrowned as indicated at SI, in which rides a belt B, see Fig. 2, driven from some source of power, not shown, whereby the whorl is driven at a substantially constant speed. Although I have chosen to show the whorl driven by means of a belt, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to this form of drive, but the whorl could be driven through a gearing or by any other suitable means.

Inserted into the spindle case I3 is a spindle bolster or bearing 32 within which is rotatably mounted the spindle 33 over which the bobbin 'I, having the customary hole extending therethrough is adapted to slip. A driven rotor 34 is pressed onto the spindle 33 to rotate therewith. The driving rotor includes a disc portion 35 which extends radially from the spindle over the inner wall of the recess 2'I in the whorl and from the periphery of which a downwardly extending flange 36 extends into the recess 2'I and into the fluid contained in said recess. It will be noticed that the rotor 34 is mounted in such a way that at no time is any part of it in physical contact with the whorl, but is connected to the whorl only through the medium of the iluid contained in the recess 21 thereof. It is to be noted that the thrust load of the bobbin 'I, rotor 34 and the spindle 33 is transmitted to the cone bearing 50 in the spindle case I3 at the bottom of the spindle, and the ball bearing II carries the thrust and axial load of the whorl.

After the fluid has been placed in the recess 21 and the driven rotor 34 has been mounted in its assembled position, the open end of the whorl -8 is covered by an annularcap 3'I which is fasthe flange of the bobbin to connect the bobbin to the rotor 34,'so that the two will rotate together. While the rotor alone serves as the supporting member for the bobbin 1, then spindle and rotor together constitute the complete supporting means for the bobbin.

From the above description, it will be readily understood how this device operates in the following manner: The whorl 8 is driven at a coni stant, predetermined, speed by means of the belt B, or any other suitable means, andthe fluid 28 carried thereby will tend to rotate at the same speed. Due to the fluid friction of the medium 28, rotation will be imparted to the driven rotor or bobbin supporting member 34, the flange 36 of which extends into the fluid, and the bobbin I and spindle 53 will be rotated to wind up the yarn. The speed of the whorl 8 is such that the rotation transmitted through the fluid medium to the rotor or' bobbin supporting member 34will be suilicient to take up the yarn as fast as it is producedV when the bobbin is empty. It will be understood that, as the tension increases in the strand of yarn, due to the increased effective diameter of the bobbin, a certain slip or difference in rotational speed of the bobbin supporting member 34 and the whorl will be obtained. Thus, as the rotor or bobbin supporting member slips in the whorl, a slowing down of the bobbin comes about and the winding proceeds in an orderly manner. The torque transmitted to the rotor or bobbin supporting member from the whorl' through the fluid medium, and the relative slipping between the two members can be varied by usingfluids of differentviscosity in the whorl, and following this line of reasoning, the winding of different yarns requires the use of different fluids. The

iiuid chamber for such a device may be so designed that a substantially constant torque is brought to bear on the bobbin supporting member over a relatively Wide range of speeds.'

By using the above-described hydraulic drive for the bobbin, a resulting roving of substantially parallel filaments of good quality is obtained, because the Winding proceeds with an even tension on the strand at all times. This device also makes it possible to wind the filaments directly as they emerge from the spinning cabinets, and byA so reducing the handling of the yarn tol a minimum,

' provides a roving having no broken filaments, a

requisite of a roving of this type.

- Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of myinvention, I am fully awarethat many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I f declare is new and desire to secure by Letters vby a rotation of the whorl will tend to rotate said bobbin supporting' means.

2. In a bobbin supporting and driving device, the combination of a stationary support, a whorl rotatably mounted relative to said support, and provided with an annular recess having smooth walls, a quantity of fluid contained in said recess and forming a power transmitting element, means for driving said whorl, a spindle rotatably mounted in said support, a driven member mounted on said spindle to rotate therewith, a

circular smooth surfaced iiange on the driven member extending into the iiuid in the recess to receive kinetic energy therefrom, and means on the driven member adapted to engage a bobbin when it is slipped onto the spindle whereby the bobbin is connected to the driven member and spindle to rotate therewith.

3. In a bobbin supporting and driving device, the combination of a stationary support, a whorl rotatably mounted on said support and having an annular smooth walled recess, a quantity of fluid contained in said recess and forming a power transmitting element, means for driving said whorl, a spindle rotatably mounted in said support, a circular bobbin supporting member mounted on said spindle coaxially with the whorl to rotate therewith, a smooth surfaced circular iiange on the bobbin supporting member extending into the annular recess in said whorl and into the iiuid therein, but not contacting the whorl physically, and means on the bobbin supporting member adjacent the spindle for rotatively connecting a bobbin thereto when the bobbin is slipped onto the spindle.

4. A bobbin supporting and driving mechanism, comprising a stationary support, a vertical spindle rotatably mounted on said support, a whorl rotatably mounted on said support and encircling said spindle, said whorl provided with a smooth walled annular recess encircling said spindle, a quantity of fluid contained in said recess and forming a power transmitting element, means for driving said whorl, including a belt contacting the periphery of the same, a circular bobbin supporting member mounted on said spindle to rotate therewith, a smooth surfaced flange depending from the periphery of said bobbin supporting member and extending into the annular recess in said whorl. and into the fluid therein, and means on said bobbin supporting member adjacent the spindle for rotatively connecting a bobbin thereto when the bobbin is slipped onto the spindle.

EDGAR G. GUENTHER. 

